
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Nichols, PD 
A1  - Klumpp, DW 
A1  - Johns, RB 
T1  - A study of food chains in seagrass communities. III. Stable carbon isotope ratios
JF  - Marine and Freshwater Research
JO  - Mar. Freshwater Res.
Y1  - 1985
VL  - 36
IS  - 5
SP  - 683
EP  - 690
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/MF9850683 
N2  - Stable carbon isotope determinations have been used to obtain a general background to food chains being studied by a range of chemical and biological techniques. &#948;13C values indicate that animals (&#948;13CC - 11.4&#8240; to - 14.9&#8240;), including two locally important commercial fish, Platycephalus laevigatus (rock flathead) and Hyporhamphus melanochir (southern sea garfish), from the Corner Inlet seagrass and non-seagrass communities are dependent to varying degrees upon seagrass (&#948;13C - 7.0&#8240; to - 9.3&#8240;) and benthic algae for their carbon source. The largest changes in &#948;13C values in the food chains is at the point involving seagrasses and their direct herbivores. The latter have more negative &#948;13C values (H. melanochir - 12.1%o, isopods - 11.4%o). Little or no change in &#948;13C values is apparent at the higher trophic levels (carnivores - 13 .0&#8240; to - 14.9&#8240;). Epiphytic material on the fresh leaves of the two seagrass species in the Inlet is depleted in 13C when compared with the seagrass leaves. An opposite effect is observed for epiphytic material on Posidonia australis detritus. 
ER  -

